As Health Secretary Sajid Javid extended New Year greetings to the Jewish community, a health chief joined with the Board of Deputies in urging UK Jews to ensure a Covid-safe Rosh Hashanah.

Mr Javid said he wanted to “wish everyone in the Jewish community a fantastic Rosh Hashanah and a healthy and happy New Year”.

Meanwhile, Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health and Security Agency, stressed the importance of local level collaboration with Test and Trace.

“I am delighted that our testing and tracing capabilities are helping to make these kinds of celebrations as safe as possible,” she said.

“Around one-in-three people with Covid-19 do not display symptoms, meaning anyone can infect someone close to them unwittingly. Our work with the Jewish community to encourage its members to get tested regularly is just one way in which we are helping one another to return to a more normal way of life.”

Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl acknowledged that synagogue groups had put guidelines in place for the festivals (for example, the United Synagogue has advised anyone wanting to attend a Rosh Hashanah service to take a lateral flow test beforehand).

“Whilst we are proud that vaccine uptake in the Jewish community appears to be excellent, there is no room for complacency and we encourage all members of the community to ensure that the New Year is Covid-safe, as well as sweet.”